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The Horse Auction Experience
 By Saferaphus
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7th May 2015 •
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Horse auctions are a place you can experience a full range of emotions, even if you’re not in the buying mode. Over the years, I’ve been to ‘select’ sales of pricey Thoroughbreds headed for the track, and the auctions attended by meat dealers. Those dead end auctions are the one place I don’t think a beginner should buy a horse or pony. I understand the temptation. Because there is where the world's woebegone and unwanted horses are trudged through, all in desperate need of a kind home. Allowing your heart to overrule your head can lead to a lot of frustrations though, and could be dangerous. I’ve been going to horse auctions for decades, mainly as a spectator with a family member who is a horse dealer, and have seen a lot of things. Many of them don’t make me proud of the human race.
I’ve seen horses that were drugged - and I knew that because I knew of the horses before they got to the auction. And I’ve seen horses I didn’t know were drugged, but saw after the auction when the drugs wore off. Drugs can be used to calm horses down, and to hide lamenesses and other conditions such as heaves. They are hard to detect at an auction.
Related: A Visit To A Racehorse Auction
Related: The Five Dollar Horse In The Shed
Related: Horse We Purchased At Auction Was Drugged
I’ve also seen horses that were unbroke ‘ridden’ through an auction ring. One poor little chestnut I remember walked quietly through the ring absolutely dumbstruck, in shock at where it was and the strange feeling of a rider on its back. Maybe it was a born saint, or maybe that rider got away with getting on the youngster’s back once. Because often with horses, we can get away with things once. But the second time around, might be different. And there are of course, people who will ride anything. How a horse reacts in a small enclosure may not be the way it reacts in a big ring or field.
What are known as ‘stable vices’ are easily hidden at an auction. Stall walking, weaving, cribbing and other behaviors should be disclosed when someone sells a horse. But, an a auction it’s buyer beware.
Some auction barns have space for a buyer to try a horse before they bid on it. Many don’t. Even if they do, what the buyer sees is not a fair assessment of what the horse may actually be like in more normal circumstances. Some horses get very excited, others shut down. Some may be used to a lot of confusion and it’s just another day at the office for them. But, it’s hard to know that when you’ve only just met outside the auction ring. And, auction barns don’t worry much about rider safety, so you may be trying out a horse with ATVs zooming through, people milling about and the gate to a busy highway just a few feet away.
There are some really good deals to be found at auctions. That’s where my Bay Goddess came from, and several other horses I’ve owned. But, for someone that doesn’t have a sharp eye and level head, they may end up with a horse that isn’t just unsuitable, but is dangerous or causes costly veterinarian bills. My opinion is I don’t think it’s a place for a beginner to buy a horse. What do you think? |
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